Igny Abbey, Cistercian abbey in Arcis-le-Ponsart, France

Igny Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Arcis-le-Ponsart, Marne, France. The church, built of light gray stone, has a tall square tower on its left side topped by a pointed roof, a large pointed-arch window, and a projecting entrance with a round-arched doorway and a balustraded gallery above. A long two-story wing with a dark slate roof and dormer windows extends to the right. The complex was rebuilt in 1927–1929, inspired by the architecture of Loc-Dieu Abbey.

The monastery was founded in 1128 and underwent multiple cycles of destruction and reconstruction throughout its history. The most recent major rebuild took place after 1918 and shaped the structure we see today.

The community of nuns who live here shapes daily life through prayer times and work routines that follow monastic tradition. Visitors can see how this way of living continues to define the rhythms and activities of the place today.

You can walk through the church, monastery buildings, and courtyard, with exhibition rooms offering insights into daily life and history. Plan your visit around access times, as this is an active monastery where the community's routine takes priority.

The chocolate factory at Igny was not run by the nuns: Dom Augustin Marre installed it in 1884, rebuilt it larger outside the monastery walls, and at its peak it employed over 70 workers. German troops pillaged it in September 1914.